Thank you to everybody who read or reviewed the last conversation. You're so lovely. We are still in the "bad choices were made" timeline.
I didn't mean to make this a Laura and Tony Potts's friendship story, but it just kind of happened. They both need a friend right now.
Conversation 20: Laura and Tony bonding
Tony Potts: So good news, I had lunch with Capt. Tight Pants. It did not end in bloodshed or one of us running out of the room crying.
Counselor Laura: I consider that excellent progress.
Tony Potts: I also was not tempted to break into the lab liquor supply that Steve locked up.
Counselor Laura: Also, for the best. Have you made any progress with the Simmons notes?
Tony Potts: No. Also, baby girl Friday decided to send everything to your 2018. Apparently, Steve's baby girl Robin told her to because, of course, Robin is calling the shots right now.
Counselor Laura: That makes sense. And let me guess, she didn't make a copy?
Tony Potts: Robin told her not to.
Counselor Laura: Not surprised.
Tony Potts: Although Capt. Tight Pants did have a brilliant idea. When we miraculously manage to drop you off, we also pick up the stone that your team already managed to get out of Vision's head.
Counselor Laura: Which will give you guys a head start on putting the gauntlet back together again.
Tony Potts: Better, the purple one can't put his magical glove together if it's here.
Counselor Laura: Which means he can't wipe out half of the universe.
Tony Potts: He can still fuck things up being his charming self, but it's harder without the gauntlet. Although even one stone by itself can be dangerous.
Counselor Laura: Clint told me. He didn't enjoy getting mind fucked by one of the stones.
Tony Potts: After experiencing the same thing from Wanda, I get it.
Counselor Laura: You don't see her as your daughter-in-law in this timeline, do you?
Tony Potts: Considering what happened to Vision here, it's probably better for my mental health not to. She was also a victim of the decimation.
Counselor Laura: Shit. So much was lost.
Tony Potts: That's not going to happen to you because we are going to play keep away with the stones. The fewer he has, the easier it will be for your Avengers to take care of him.
Counselor Laura: As soon as you figure out how to send me back. Will I even get back in time to make a difference? It's already been a week.
Tony Potts: That doesn't matter. We could just plop you back in your own timeline seconds after you disappeared.
Counselor Laura: So, we have all the time in the universe to plan this, right?
Tony Potts: Exactly. We can even get some reinforcements. Nebula and Rocket may come to join us. Also, if things work with Simmons, maybe you can go to Norway for an intervention. Storm Breaker would be good to have.
Counselor Laura: Why would I be needed for an intervention in Norway?
Tony Potts: So, have you talked to you're not a husband yet? The sooner we get any information he has, the sooner we can begin Operation: Infinite Keep Away.
Counselor Laura: Congratulations, your avoidance is just as apparent as Dr. Tony Stark Rogers.
Tony Potts: I try.
Counselor Laura: Unfortunately, every day I've been here since Clint found out that I'm Laura from alternate 2018, he's been avoiding me. I think Friday has been helping him.
Friday: I have not been helping your not-a-husband avoid you.
Counselor Laura: I don't believe you. If you're anything like my Friday, you're good at meddling in interpersonal relationships. It hasn't got better since she became an LMD. I'm sure she's currently conspiring to get Flash, MJ, and Peter in a poly relationship.
Tony Potts: Flash and Peter? What the actual fuck!
Tony Potts: I thought you were from the "good" timeline, but now I'm wondering.
Counselor Laura: It turns out Flash's previous behavior was a combination of pulling pigtail syndrome and internalized homophobia.
Tony Potts: That's never a good combination. Do you know about Tiberius?
Counselor Laura: The asshole responsible for the nonconsensual sex tape? Please tell me he was one of the people that were dusted.
Tony Potts: No such luck.
Counselor Laura: It's never the assholes. Afia, or rather Friday as an LMD teenager, helped Flash work through his issues.
Tony Potts: Which is good. Did I end up being Flash's foster parent because he got kicked out for being gay?
Counselor Laura: Something like that. If we successfully bring him back here, you need to get him out of that house. He can't stay there. It's toxic for him. Unfortunately, Flash takes out his issues on other people. Even though he's 18 now, he might feel stuck there coming back from this.
Tony Potts: Okay, that I understand, at least. Your world scares me.
Counselor Laura: Your world scares me.
Tony Potts: Now I'm going to push you into the world and tell you to text message you're not a husband.
Counselor Laura: I'm not sure how to start that conversation.
Tony Potts: Invite him to the all-hands meeting we're doing tomorrow. Steve said he will make brownies, the turtle type.
Counselor Laura: We're doing an all-hands meeting? The last one ended with Simmons throwing up on my shoes.
Tony Potts: We kind of need to. We need to come up with a map of where all the other stones are when we drop you home. It will be fine. We have already hidden most of the liquor.
Counselor Laura: That could make things worse. Withdrawal sucks.
Tony Potts: Especially if you are me and end up doing it during near-death experiences.
Counselor Laura: You must want to change. I don't think Simmons is ready yet.
Tony Potts: You're right, but maybe if this works and we bring back frozen Fitz, she will feel like she has a reason to try. At a minimum, we should get back her grandson.
Counselor Laura: That still confuses me greatly. You're right, I'll go invite Clint to the meeting. We are ordering pizza. That should entice him if the brownies are not enough.
Tony Potts: See, you're making progress already.
To be continued…